Magnetic thermal module and magnetic thermal device

ABSTRACT

A magnetic thermal module, subjected to a magnetic field, includes at least one magnetic thermal material and a container. The magnetic thermal material is used for generating calories or frigories in response to a variable and controllable magnetic field. The container is used for containing the magnetic thermal material. Furthermore, a magnetic thermal device is disclosed herein.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/529,930, filed Sep. 1, 2011, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to a magnetic module and magnetic device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a magnetic thermal module and a magnetic thermal device adapting the magnetic thermal module.

2. Description of Related Art

The use of the magneto-caloric effect (MCE) as a basis for heat exchange system has been known for many years. MC (magneto-caloric) material has a specific Curie temperature. To detail, the MC material has a specific temperature range for being magnetized or demagnetized in response into or out of a magnetic field. In operation, the MC material is affected by the temperature in various environments, such as in tropical regions, subtropical regions or desert regions, resulting in limiting the performance of the heat exchange system. Likewise, even pluralities of the MC materials are connected in series; the temperature range or the energy transiting efficiency of the serial combination of the MC materials may not meet the requirement.

Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a magnetic thermal module so as to improve energy efficiency of heat exchange and to provide convenience of upgrading or replacement. The magnetic thermal module, subjected to a magnetic field, includes at least one magnetic thermal material and a container. The magnetic thermal material is used for generating calories or frigories in response to a variable and controllable magnetic field. The container is used for containing the magnetic thermal material.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material in the container is replaceable.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material has a magnetic transition temperature.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material is applied to a cold heat exchanger and/or a hot heat exchanger.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a magnetic thermal device so as to improve energy efficiency of heat exchange and to provide convenience of upgrading or replacement. The magnetic thermal device includes a housing, at least one magnetic element and at least one magnetic thermal module. The magnetic element is used for generating a variable magnetic field. The magnetic thermal module is replaceably inserted into the housing. The magnetic thermal module includes at least one magnetic thermal material and a container. The magnetic thermal material is used for generating calories or frigories in response to the variable magnetic field. The container is used for containing the magnetic thermal material.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic element is disposed in the housing.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal device further includes assisting means for assisting movement of the magnetic thermal module into or out of the housing.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material is replaceable.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal device further includes a plurality of magnetic thermal modules, in which the magnetic thermal modules are connected in serial, in parallel or as a serial/parallel combination in the housing with the same or different magnetic thermal material.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material has a magnetic transition temperature.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the variable magnetic field is controllable.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic element includes at least one of permanent magnet, electromagnet and superconducting magnet.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a relative movement is achieved between the magnetic element and the magnetic thermal module.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the relative movement is achieved by turning on and off the electromagnet or the superconducting magnetic.

One another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a magnetic thermal device so as to improve energy efficiency of heat exchange and to provide convenience of upgrading or replacement. The magnetic thermal device includes a housing, at least one magnetic element, carrying means and assisting means. The magnetic element is used for generating a variable magnetic field. The carrying means is replaceably inserted into the housing, and is used for carrying at least one magnetic thermal material dissipating or accumulating heat in response to the variable magnetic field. The assisting means is used for assisting movement of the carrying means into or out of the housing.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic element is disposed in the housing.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material is replaceable.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the assisting means includes sliding rails, grooves, tenons, locators, or the combination thereof.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the carrying means includes a plurality of through-holes for passing a heat transferring fluid, for a cold heat exchanger and/or a hot heat exchanger.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal device further includes a controlling unit coupled to the magnetic element, for controlling the magnetic element.

Therefore, the replaceable magnetic thermal module or material of the present disclosure can be adopted in a heat exchange system or the magnetic thermal system to provide convenience of upgrading or replacement, for improving the energy efficiency.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although variations and modifications therein may be affected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the written description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” or “has” and/or “having” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It is noted that the term “replaceable” or “replaceably” element disclosed or used here and after in the present disclosure generally means that one element can be completely replaced or upgraded by other equivalent, similar, or modified elements.

It is noted that the term “relative movement” conditions or status disclosed or used here and after in the present disclosure generally means conditions or status that occurred between two elements, and wherein at least one of the above-mentioned two elements has a motion and/or variable condition or status in the other one's perspective.

It is noted that the term “variable” and “controllable” magnetic field or range of magnetic flux disclosed or used here and after in the present disclosure generally means that the magnetic field or the range of magnetic flux has conditions or status in two different time spots, wherein the conditions or status can be turned of, turned off, increasing in quantity, decreasing in quantity, and wherein distance between the two different time spots can be in a range from very short to very long.

FIG. 1 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal module 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The magnetic thermal module 100, subjected to a magnetic field, includes at least one magnetic thermal material 141 and a container 150. The magnetic thermal material 141 is used for generating calories or frigories in response to a variable and controllable magnetic field (not shown in FIG. 1) or range of magnetic flux generated by the magnetic element (not shown in FIG. 1). The container 150 is used for containing the magnetic thermal material 141. The magnetic thermal material 141 is in any shape suitable for being contained in the container 150, and is not to be limited.

If the magnetic thermal material 141 is subjected to the magnetic field, the magnetic thermal material 141 heats up under magnetization or a magneto-caloric heating effect. If the magnetic field disappears or decreases largely, the magnetic thermal material 141 cools down under demagnetization or a magneto-caloric cooling effect. Therefore, the magnetic thermal material 141 can be applied to a cold heat exchanger and/or a hot heat exchanger accordingly.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there can be an assisting means (e.g. assisting means 360 in FIG. 3) for assisting movement of the container 150 into or out of a magnetic thermal device (not shown in FIG. 1). The assisting means can be disposed between the container 150 and inner surface of the magnetic thermal device, and the assisting means can be selected from the group of sliding rails, grooves, tenons, locators, or the combination thereof. Since the assisting means can be provided for assisting movement of the container 150 in relative to the magnetic thermal device, therefore the container 150 is replaceable.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material 141 in the container 150 is replaceable. For example, the magnetic thermal material 141 in the container 150 can be replaced by another material having different magneto-caloric characteristics, for a specific application or a specific temperature range.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material 141 has a magnetic transition temperature. For example, various magnetic thermal materials have different magnetic transition temperatures (or so-called Curie temperatures), at which a ferromagnetic or a ferrimagnetic material becomes paramagnetic on heating, and the effect is reversible. The magnetic thermal material 141 will lose its magnetism if heated above the Curie temperature. Therefore, the magnetic thermal material 141 can be chosen flexibly to meet the specific temperature ranges in different applications or environments.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material 141 includes at least one of rare earth metal, alloy and the combination thereof. For example, the magnetic thermal material 141 can be, such as FeRh, Gd₅Si₂Ge₂, Gd₅(Si_(1-x)Ge_(x))₄, RCo₂, La(Fe_(13-x)Si_(x)), MnAs_(1-x)Sb_(x), MnFe(P, As), Co(S_(1-x)Se_(x))₂, NiMnSn, MnCoGeB, R_(1-x)M_(x)MnO₃, (where R=lanthanide, M=Ca, Sr and Ba), . . . etc.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic field is variable and controllable. The magnetic field can be controlled to increase or decrease the temperature of the magnetic thermal material 141, in order to control the temperature of the heat exchanger, or the equivalent devices, or other devices.

FIG. 2 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal module 200 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The magnetic thermal module 200 as shown in FIG. 2 is similar to the magnetic thermal module 100 as shown in FIG. 1. The magnetic thermal module 200 includes four magnetic thermal materials 241˜244 and a container 250. The magnetic thermal materials 241˜244 are used for generating calories or frigories in response to a variable and controllable magnetic field (not shown in FIG. 2) or range of magnetic flux generated by the magnetic element (not shown in FIG. 2). The container 250 is used for containing the magnetic thermal materials 241˜244.

The magnetic thermal materials 241˜244 have similar or different magneto-caloric characteristics. Therefore, they can be used for the specific temperature range in different applications or environments. The other structures of the magnetic thermal module and correlations between FIG. 2 and FIG. 1 are the same or similar, and without superfluous illustration herein.

The advantage of the present disclosure lies in the performance of the heat exchanger or the equivalent devices can be adjusted easily by replacing the magnetic thermal module and/or the magnetic thermal material to another one having different magneto-caloric characteristic. Moreover, the specific temperature range can be defined by adding the same or different magnetic thermal materials in the heat exchanger or the equivalent devices.

FIG. 3 shows schematically block diagrams of a magnetic thermal device 300 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The magnetic thermal device 300 includes a housing 310, at least one magnetic element 320 and at least one magnetic thermal module, for example, a first magnetic thermal module 331 and a second magnetic thermal module 332 in this embodiment shown in FIG. 3. The magnetic element 320 is used for generating a magnetic field (not shown in FIG. 3) and is disposed in the housing 310, for example. It is noted that the magnetic element 320 may be disposed out of the housing 310, and the present disclosure will not limit this embodiment. The magnetic thermal modules 331 and 332 are intended to be replaceably inserted into the housing 310. The first magnetic thermal module 331 includes a first magnetic thermal material 341 and a container 351, and the second magnetic thermal module 332 includes a second magnetic thermal material 342 and a container 352. The magnetic thermal materials 341 and 342 are used for generating calories or frigories in response to a relative movement within the magnetic field or range of magnetic flux generated by the magnetic element 320. The container 351 is used for containing the first magnetic thermal material 341, and the container 352 is used for containing the second magnetic thermal material 342.

If the magnetic thermal materials 341 and 342 are subjected to the magnetic field, the magnetic thermal materials 341 and 342 heat up under magnetization or a magneto-caloric heating effect. If the magnetic field disappears or decreases largely, the magnetic thermal materials 341 and 342 cool down under demagnetization or a magnetocaloric cooling effect. Therefore, the magnetic thermal materials 341 and 342 can be applied to a cold heat exchanger and/or a hot heat exchanger in the magnetic thermal device, or the equivalent devices, or other devices.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal device 300 further includes assisting means 360 for assisting movement of the containers 351 and 352 into or out of the housing 310. The assisting means 360 can be disposed between the containers 351 and 352 and inner surface of the housing 310, and the assisting means 360 can be sliding rails, grooves, tenons, locators, or the combination thereof. Since the assisting means 360 can be provided for assisting movement of the containers 351 and 352 in relative to the magnetic thermal device 300, thus the magnetic thermal modules 331 and 332 are replaceable.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal material 341 in the container 351 is replaceable, and so does the magnetic thermal material 342 in the container 352. For example, the magnetic thermal material 341 in the container 351 can be replaced by another material having different magnetocaloric characteristics, for a specific application or a specific temperature range. Similarly, the magnetic thermal material 342 in the container 352 is replaceable, and without superfluous illustration herein.

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 at the same time. FIG. 4 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal device 400 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The magnetic thermal device 400 as shown in FIG. 4 is similar to the magnetic thermal device 300 as shown in FIG. 3, and without superfluous illustration herein.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal modules 331 and 332 are connected in serial in the housing 310 with the same or different magnetic thermal materials as shown in FIG. 3, and the magnetic thermal modules 431 and 432 are connected in parallel in the housing 410 with the same or different magnetic thermal materials as shown in FIG. 4. If there are more than two magnetic thermal modules in the magnetic thermal device 400, the magnetic thermal modules can even be connected in serial and/or in parallel at the same time.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, each magnetic thermal material 341, 342, 441 and 442 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 has a magnetic transition temperature, and the magnetic transition temperature may be different with each other. For example, various magnetic thermal materials have different magnetic transition temperatures (or so-called Curie temperatures), at which a ferromagnetic or a ferrimagnetic material becomes paramagnetic on heating, and the effect is reversible. The magnet thermal material will loses its magnetism if heated above the Curie temperature. Therefore, the magnetic thermal material can be chosen flexibly to meet the specific temperature ranges in different applications or environments.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, both the magnetic elements 320 and 420 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 include at least one of group of permanent magnet, electromagnet and superconducting magnet. In one embodiment, the magnetic field is variable and controllable. For example, if the magnetic element 320 is the electromagnet, controlling electric currents passing through the magnetic element 320 can adjust the intensity of the magnetic field, therefore to control the magneto-caloric effect of the magnetic thermal materials 341 and 342. It is noted that in a special case with afore-mentioned electromagnet and/or superconducting magnet right here, the magnetic element and the magnetic thermal modules are not moving, however, a variable and controllable magnetic field within the magnetic thermal device is existed.

Therefore, the advantage of the present disclosure lies in the operation temperature of the magnetic thermal device, or the equivalent devices, or other devices can be adjusted easily by replacing the magnetic thermal module and/or the magnetic thermal material to another one having different magneto-caloric characteristic. Moreover, the specific temperature range can be defined by disposing the magnetic thermal modules in serial, in parallel or in the serial/parallel combination in the magnetic thermal device, or the equivalent devices, or other devices, such as heat exchanger, magnetic cooling device, magnetic thermal engine, magnetic thermal generator, . . . etc.

FIG. 5 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal device 500 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The magnetic thermal device 500 includes a housing 510, at least one magnetic element 520, carrying means 550 and assisting means 560. The magnetic element 520 is used for generating a magnetic field (not shown in FIG. 5) and is disposed in the housing 510, for example. It is noted that the magnetic element 520 may be disposed out of the housing 510, and the present disclosure will not limit this embodiment. The carrying means 550 is replaceably inserted into the housing 510 and is used for carrying at least one magnetic thermal material 541 dissipating or accumulating heat in response to a relative movement within the magnetic field or range of magnetic flux generated by the magnetic field. The assisting means 560 is used for assisting movement of the carrying means 550 into or out of the housing 510, and the assisting means 560 can be selected from the group of sliding rails, grooves, tenons, locators, or the combination thereof. Since the assisting means 560 can be provided for assisting movement of the carrying means 550 in relative to the magnetic thermal device 500, therefore the carrying means 550 is replaceable. In one embodiment, the magnetic thermal material 541 in the carrying means 550 is replaceable.

For example, the carrying means 550 can be a container, an extraction box or the combination thereof. The magnetic thermal material 541 can be exchanged by replacing the carrying means 550 to another one having different magnetic thermal material, for another application or another specific temperature range.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the carrying means 550 includes a plurality of through-holes (e.g. a first through-hole 581 and a second through-hole 582) for passing a heat transferring fluid, for a cold heat exchanger and/or a hot heat exchanger (not shown in FIG. 5). For example, the first through-hole 581 disposed at an exit of the carrying means 550, transmits the heat transferring fluid to an external device (not shown in FIG. 5) to dissipate, circulate, exchange, or accumulate heat, and the heat transferring fluid is used to perform the heat exchange function with outside environment, and then, the heat transferring fluid is returned to the second through-hole 582 disposed at an inlet of the carrying means 550, after that, a plurality of heat exchange cycles are performed to adjust the temperature of the device and/or the outside environment.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the magnetic thermal device 500 further includes a controlling unit 570 coupled to the magnetic element 520, for controlling the magnetic element 520 to adjust conditions, such as an intensity of the magnetic field. The controlling unit 570 further has a temperature sensor (not shown in FIG. 5), for detecting temperature of the heat transferring fluid and/or detecting an environment temperature. If the environment temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature, the controlling unit 570 controls the magnetic element 520 to decrease the intensity of the magnetic field, in order to cool down the environment temperature. In contrast, if the environment temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the controlling unit 570 controls the magnetic element 520 to increase the intensity of the magnetic field, in order to heat up the environment temperature. Thus, the specific temperature range can be controlled with foregoing operations of the controlling unit 570.

FIG. 6 shows schematically a block diagram of a magnetic thermal device 600 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The magnetic thermal device 600 as shown in FIG. 6 is similar to the magnetic thermal device 500 as shown in FIG. 5.

Comparing FIG. 6 with FIG. 5, the carrying means 660 as shown in FIG. 6 is used for carrying a first magnetic thermal material 641 and a second magnetic thermal material 642 having the same or different magneto-caloric characteristics, and the first magnetic thermal material 641 can be connected to the second magnetic thermal material 642 in serial or n parallel, for the specific applications or the specific temperature ranges. The other structures and correlations between FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are the same or similar, and without superfluous illustration herein.

In sum, the present disclosure provides a simple, replaceable magnetic thermal module by choosing a proper magnetic thermal material to perform the heat exchange functions in different applications or environments in many area or territories, such as cold area and tropic area, to achieve the best energy efficiency, such as transition efficiency of the energy or heat exchange. By the way, a fast system upgrade or a simple elements replacement when elements are broken can be also achieved by just replacing the magnetic thermal module and/or the magnetic thermal material.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A magnetic thermal module subjected to a magnetic field, comprising: at least one magnetic thermal material generating calories or frigories in response to a variable and controllable magnetic field; and a container for containing the magnetic thermal material.
 2. The magnetic thermal module of claim 1, wherein the magnetic thermal material in the container is replaceable.
 3. The magnetic thermal module of claim 1, wherein the magnetic thermal material has a magnetic transition temperature.
 4. The magnetic thermal module of claim 1, wherein the magnetic thermal material is applied to a cold heat exchanger and/or a hot heat exchanger.
 5. A magnetic thermal device, comprising: a housing; at least one magnetic element, for generating a variable magnetic field; and at least one magnetic thermal module replaceably inserted into the housing, the magnetic thermal module comprising: at least one magnetic thermal material generating calories or frigories in response to the variable magnetic field; and a container for containing the magnetic thermal material.
 6. The magnetic thermal device of claim 5, wherein the magnetic element is disposed in the housing.
 7. The magnetic thermal device of claim 5, further comprising: assisting means for assisting movement of the magnetic thermal module into or out of the housing.
 8. The magnetic thermal device of claim 5, wherein the magnetic thermal material is replaceable.
 9. The magnetic thermal device of claim 5, further comprising: a plurality of magnetic thermal modules, wherein the magnetic thermal modules are connected in serial, in parallel or as a serial/parallel combination in the housing with the same or different magnetic thermal material.
 10. The magnetic thermal device of claim 5, wherein the magnetic thermal material has a magnetic transition temperature.
 11. The magnetic thermal device of claim 5, wherein the variable magnetic field is controllable.
 12. The magnetic thermal device of claim 11, wherein the magnetic element comprises at least one of permanent magnet, electromagnet and superconducting magnet.
 13. The magnetic thermal device of claim 12, wherein a relative movement is achieved between the magnetic element and the magnetic thermal module.
 14. The magnetic thermal device of claim 13, wherein the relative movement is achieved by turning on and off the electromagnet or the superconducting magnet.
 15. A magnetic thermal device, comprising: a housing; at least one magnetic element, for generating a variable magnetic field; carrying means replaceably inserted into the housing, for carrying at least one magnetic thermal material dissipating or accumulating heat in response to the variable magnetic field; and assisting means for assisting movement of the carrying means into or out of the housing.
 16. The magnetic thermal device of claim 15, wherein the magnetic element is disposed in the housing.
 17. The magnetic thermal device of claim 15, wherein the magnetic thermal material is replaceable.
 18. The magnetic thermal device of claim 17, wherein the assisting means comprises sliding rails, grooves, tenons, locator, or the combination thereof.
 19. The magnetic thermal device of claim 15, wherein the carrying means comprises a plurality of through-holes for passing a heat transferring fluid, for a cold heat exchanger and/or a hot heat exchanger.
 20. The magnetic thermal device of claim 15, further comprising: a controlling unit coupled to the magnetic element, for controlling the magnetic element. 